What Happens After the Vote?

(From Edd Sterchi, Bulletin Digest, November 2024) The election will soon be over, and boy oh boy, will I be glad. I simply detest all of the political rhetoric, spinning of the issues, and the constant, incessant, irritating ads! Regardless of whether our favorite candidate wins or not, and regardless of whether we think the country is headed the right or wrong direction, there are some important things we need to remember after all of the dust has settled. We can glean them from the book of Daniel, who definitely had to endure some wicked, ungodly rulers. God is still in control. No matter who is elected, always remember that God is in charge. In the book of Daniel, four times we read that “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men” (4:17, 25, 32; 5:21). Daniel 2:21 says it best, “He removes kings and raises up kings.” Remember this: no election by man is going to thwart God’s almighty plan! Regardless of who is in office, God’s Will, will still be done. God will make it so that we can remain faithful to Him. No matter how wicked the political leader, no matter how much the laws are changed for the worse, no matter how oppressive the government, Christians can remain faithful to God. Despite servitude and persecution, Daniel was still able to remain faithful to Jehovah God (Daniel 1:1-8, 6:7-10). God will not let a situation happen to His people in which it is impossible for them to remain faithful to His will. Because God is in control and because He will make it so that we can be faithful to Him, we can rest assured that He will reward our faithfulness. All good things come from God, and God can bring blessings into any situation. When Daniel remained faithful, God blessed him (Daniel 1:9, 15-20; 2:46-48; 4:29; 6:1-3, 22, 28). Regardless of who comes into political leadership and regardless of what laws are or are not created, we can have the certainty that if we remain faithful to God, He will bless us and reward us. So, once the election is over, resolve to be a faithful Christian, a good citizen, and a caring human, and maybe it won’t bother you so much just who did or didn’t get elected! And always remember that God will always be God – nothing will ever change that! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

[James 2:1-4] The world teaches hate. Turn on the news or any social media and you will be flooded with stories and opinions that drive fear, distrust, and anger. If you are honest with yourself, you know we have all seen prejudice. We are all guilty of prejudice at one time or another, it is almost inevitable. When we see someone, we make a snap judgement. Are they like me or are they different? Based on that judgement we treat them differently. We should see each other as God does. God looks at the heart. He sees us as lost children who have sinned and need salvation. (Romans 3:23). As a Christian, we need to understand the true love that God has for us. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). God expects us to love the way He does. “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11). “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).

It does not matter to God if we are tall, short, fat, thin, black, white, brown, red, yellow, American, Palestinian, or if our bodies are whole or broken. God wants us all to repent and turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9). We are blessed to have brothers and sisters around the world of every color, culture, and nationality. Do you love them? Do you righteously fear God? 

Now Is Your Time

In George Washington’s September 17, 1796 farewell address, he cautioned against three interrelated dangers that threatened to destroy the Union: regionalism, partisanship, and foreign entanglements. He warned his countrymen not to let regional loyalties overwhelm national attachments: “The name of American…must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” At this time, many Americans primarily identified with their state or region, but Washington reminded the citizenry not to allow such attachments to divide them, lest “designing men” convince them that differing local interests made the Union unworkable or unnecessary. In particular, Washington feared that geographic identities would serve as the foundation for the development of political parties. Indeed, this process had already begun with the emergence of the New England Federalists and Southern Democratic-Republicans. While we currently view partisanship as inseparable from the American political process, in the early republic, most condemned parties as divisive, disruptive, and the tools of demagogues seeking power. “Factionalism,” as contemporaries called it, encouraged the electorate to vote based on party loyalty rather than the common good. Washington feared that partisanship would lead to a “spirit of revenge” in which party men would not govern for the good of the people, but only to obtain and maintain their grip on power. As a result, he warned Americans to guard against would-be despots who would use parties as “potent engines…to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.” The greatest danger to the Union, though, stemmed from the combination of factionalism and external invasion. Washington explained that partisanship “open[ed] the door to foreign influence and corruption” because it weakened voters’ abilities to make reasoned and disinterested choices. Rather than choosing the best men for office, the people would base decisions on “ill-founded jealousies and false alarms,” and so elect those in league with foreign conspirators. To avoid outside interference, Washington advocated a foreign policy based on neutrality and friendly commercial relations with all.

[Ester 4:13-14] And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" That was a bold message to give to a queen! But what does money, title, or position matter before God? No matter who you are you cannot remain silent. Mordecai tells her: it is your job to speak up. Cowardice has consequences. God will punish those who live by fear and reward those who live by faith. Mordecai then asks: why do you think you are where you are? Was it just by chance that you became queen? You are queen because God put you there!

And it isn’t just by chance - you were placed where you are today for a purpose. You were called to be God’s instrument of justice in such a time as this. “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (Acts 17:26).

“Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their [party] country” – Charles E. Weller. Because we live in a free country threatened by perverted evil, it is our duty to cast our vote, not for party, but for the preservation of our God given rights which have made this country great for 248 years. Remember, the world, and the Lord, are watching. 

No Good Deed Goes...

 

One day in England a “gentleman of the road” (a hobo) stopped by a restaurant named “St George and the Dragon.” He knocked at the back door and asked if he might have a bite of some leftovers to eat. A very stern lady looked the fellow in the eye and said, “I’ll not give you one crumb! You’re a fit fellow – get yourself a job, you bum!” And then to punctuate her point, she slammed the door in the fellow’s face. The shabbily dressed fellow stood looking at the establishment’s sign for a moment and then knocked, again. The door opened and the same stern lady asked in a hateful voice, “Well, what is it you want now!?” “I was just wondering,” he said, “could I please speak to St George this time?”

There's a wonderful legend about Saint Francis who one day informed his brethren that he planned to go into the nearby village on a preaching mission. He invited a novice to go along. On their way, they passed an injured man and Francis promptly stopped, saw to the poor fellow's needs, and arranged medical care for him. They went on and soon passed a homeless man who was near starvation. Again, Francis stopped his journey and ministered to the hungry, homeless man. So it went, throughout the day: people in need, and Francis lovingly caring for them as best he could until the sun was low in the sky. He told his novice friend it was time for them to return, now, to the monastery for evening prayers. The young man queried, "But, you said we were coming to town to preach to the people." Francis smiled and then said, "My friend, that's what we've been doing all day." 

[Matthew 25:31-46] Those who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the prisoner heard these words from the King, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Paul wrote, Titus 3:8, “…those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” The Hebrews writer stated, Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister.”

Enter the devil, stage left. He and those deceived by him consistently repeat, “No good deed goes unpunished.” And sometimes it seems the devil is right. A godly wife does all she can to live the truth of 1 Peter 3:1-6, but her husband doesn’t respond with love. He intensifies his cruelty and rebellion to God. Godly parents do all they can to live the truth of Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4, but their children neither appreciate nor internalize godly training. Godly elders attempt to live up to the truth of Hebrews 13:17, but some brethren see them as meddlesome and overbearing. Godly Christians do their best to apply Matthew 18:15-17 and Galatians 6:1-2, but they are accused of trying to force their religion on others. Sadly, all this happens and Satan gloats when he persuades some that righteousness costs far more than it pays.

Happily, scripture countermands each of the devil’s lies. It’s just not true that “no good deed goes unpunished.” Rather, in this sin-damaged world, it’s more accurate to say that “few good deeds go unchallenged.” Satan opposes good, especially good that’s done in the name of Christ. Why? Because the devil knows that good deeds honor God, help people, and mold Christian character. What the devil opposes, God commends. In God’s divine grace and mercy for the faithful, we can say, “No good deed goes unnoticed” – “No good deed goes unappreciated” and “No good deed goes unrewarded.” We have God’s word on these truths. Love the Lord and no good deed will go unrewarded! Voting is a good deed.

Are You Ready and Willing to Vote?

 

Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, has always been completely isolated from the rest of the world. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only one road leading out. If someone were to travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get to Wabush, there is only one way he or she could leave – by turning around. Each of us, through our wrong choices, arrives in a town called Sin. Once in Sin, we are trapped and doomed to destruction (Romans 6:23), unless we find a way out. As in Wabush, there is only one way out, a road built by God Himself – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins (Ephesians 1:7). Through his atoning sacrifice, we find our way out of Sin into a Heavenly City (Hebrews 11:16), where there is eternal life and eternal joy. Through the “curtain” of His flesh and His blood shed for our sins, Jesus has opened up a “new and living way” out of Sin into the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19-20). But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about-face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there is no way out of (town) Sin.

It's time for all good citizens to realize an evil dirt road is being built to a place called Tyranny. Those who are not paying attention are traveling down this road, and don’t even realize it. Our U.S. Constitution is being dismantled word by word. The freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms and many more God given rights are being reconstituted to shift government powers from the people to destroy the elected representative system – tyranny! It’s time to put down the video games, set sports aside, and get your head out of the sand! It’s time to take a serious look at the candidates running for all kinds of representative electorate from President of the United States all the way down to the local dog catcher. It’s time to vote! It’s time to vote for evil or good representation. It’s time to stand up for righteous Godly living and VOTE! If you do not vote in this upcoming election, and evil wins, it will be too late to save this free country.

Sitting in your recliner watching organized manipulate sports programs, ignorant sitcom TV programing, and obviously orchestrated propaganda news (parroted by all public outlets), is not taking the time necessary to investigate whether our elected representatives are actually representing out values. And I mean take the time to look at several outlets to see which educates you on the issues in the country and around the world.

[ Jerimiah 17:14-18] Whatever you do, don’t talk to me about God’s will and His will to save the country because he loves our country. How about you? Do you love this country enough to vote with a righteous conscience to show God you want to continue in His blessings? If you don’t vote, then your no-vote states that you agree with all the unrighteous evil being peddled throughout this country and around the world. Your vote can stop the evil and turn this country around, headed back to God and the Constitutional Republic established with the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, far from the evil intents of tyranny and oppression. Otherwise, I believe God will let us have what we want without prejudice, but remember this, one day you will have to answer to God for your no-vote. Revival through repentance along with righteous informed voting is the only action that will bring the blessings of God back to our land. We’re going down a road to destruction! It’s a Satan constructed dead-end road! Turn around and seek God’s favor before it’s too late! Get out and VOTE! Christians can and must save America by voting.

Heal Our Land

 

In the 1914 publication of the 1912 Barnhill-Tichenor Debate on Socialism, in which Henry M. Tichenor, a socialist thinker, and John Basil Barnhill, an anti-socialist writer, debated socialism in a series of essays. In "Indictment of Socialism No. 3," Barnhill listed a series of points. Indictment of Socialism No. 3, By John Basil Barnhill: “When my Sweatbox has failed to effect a cure - and I have rarely known it to fail - I have recourse then to a series of knockout drops, a few of which are here appended: 1. Where the people fear the government, you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people, you have liberty. 2. The surest way to make a scoundrel out of a saint is to give him the power of spending other people's money and Socialism would multiply infinitely such opportunities. (The first one is a quote, often mistakenly attributed to Thomas Jefferson).

Our republic form of government, where the citizen rules over the elected, is constantly be referred to as a democracy, which is that form of government ruled by the popular vote. We do not live in a democracy! Our democracy is not being threatened by anything! But today our republic is being ignored by those who want to rule over the people through “pork-barrel” legislation, non-elected “bullies” and the empowering of NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations). The “land of the free and home of the brave” is being trampled on and destroyed by Marxist and Communistic influences silencing the honest, hard-working, capitalistic society America is known for. The tax-paying, voting public is being hoodwinked into believing that there is a better society awaiting them and it can all be done without the Creator. Just start doing whatever feels good to you – damn society.

[Jeremiah 18:1-12] The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way and make your ways and your doings good."'" And they said, "That is hopeless! So, we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart."

Once upon a time American’s allowed the Word of God to form and sustain a republic form of government that was faithful to and obeyed God with fear and its citizens lived moral upright lives. But we are being told that that kind of life in “unsustainable.” Family is burdensome and capitalism is nothing but slavery 2.0. Is this where America is today? "That is hopeless! So, we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart." (2 Chronicles 7:13-14) God promised once and that promise holds true today. We as a people must repent and pray or lose our country. VOTE!